Electric circuit interrupter



Original Filed Feb. 16, 1944 Fig. I.

Y n S9 v D LA 4 N H T?) q r n .u TM OU nu m awn F 2 9 e i a a 5 m m W W mm 1 2 \l. TL W s w Hm 7 w 6 a. a w W F. W f w 5 a s 5 52 s /ul'fl] z -V//I Q F W a F P ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 28, 1950 ELECTRIC CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER George F. Lincks, Pittsfleld, Mass, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Original application February 16, 1944, Serial No.

522,584. Divided and this application February 25, 1948, Serial No. 10,785

2 Claims. 1

My invention relates to electric circuit interrupters, and more particularly to such circuit interrupters which are adapted to be used in place of the conventional fuse cutout devices. Specifically my invention relates to a so-called fuseand forming a p Of is specification. less cutout of the open reclosing type. This ap- F r a bet r und rs n in f my v n plication is a division of my copending applicaefe ce m y be had o the pa y tion for Electric Circuit Interrupter, Serial No. r w n in wh h F 1 is a side v w p r y 52,584,,filed February 16, 1944, and assigned to in section, of a useless cutout of the reclosin'g the same assignee as the instant application. type m dyin my nv n i n, and i 2 is an Fuse cutout devices havebeen used to a, large enlarged view partly in section taken along the extent in the protection of high tension electric e f distribution circuits. Devices of this kind in gen- Referring now to the drawings, I have illuseral heretofore have comprised replaceable trated my invention in connection with an infusible means usually located in close proximity sulating support ID of porcelain or other similar to the high tension conductors. An abnormal s at a r O a Size d Shape used in electrical condition occurring on a circuit pro- C nn c io W h t se Cutouts 0f the prior tected by a fuse cutout will destroy the fuse link such as is disclosed for example, in United States and hence require replacement thereof. Inmod- Letters Patent No. 2,354,907, Bennett et al., ern practice on distribution systems several of so gra d ug 1944, and assigned to the Same these overcurrent protective cutout devices are assignee as he p se pp c Insulating connected in series thus demanding accuracy in support, or insulator 10 may be suitably suporderv for proper correlation of such devices and ported from a pole carrying the transmission line so that each device performs its predetermined (not shown) as by a Supp p, mounting function. The need for renewal of the fuse link bracket, or han Co st u generally d introduces the human element which, especially Gat a which is adapted to Surround a 0911- in a time of stress which is the time when fuse t p o of reduced diameter 0f the links blow, it apt to err by installing a fuse link sulator I0. Supported from the lower end of inof incorrect rating because the correct rating is a sulator I0 is the lower terminal contact assembly not available. Moreover, in case the conven- 0 50, to be described in greater detail hereinafter, tional reclosing fuse cutout is employed, the which d s a movable Contact Cooperatclearing of temporary faults without service ining with movable contact I 4 is the stationary terruption is limited to the number of fuse links contact 15. In order to provide a satisfactory availablefor successive operation or to the abilcontact wipe the contact I4 is provided with a ity of the operator to discover and to renew blown portion !4 biased toward contact 5 by spring I6. fuse links before an outage occurs. It would Contacts l4 and 15 comprise the relatively movatherefore be desirable to provide a reclosing fuseble contacts of the circuit interrupter of my inless cutout concerning which it is unnecessary to vention and contact I5 is illustrated as being manually replace any fuse links so that an unmech c y pp t from the pp end of limited number of temporary faults can be insulator 10 by means of supporting arm I'I. cleared without any attention by the operator. Contact I5 is furthermore electrically connected It is an object of my invention, therefore, to to line terminal l8 to which an external electric provide a new and improved electric circuit incircuit such as conductor l9 may be connected. terrupter adapted to replace the fuse cutouts of It should be understood that insofar as my inthe prior art. vention is concerned the relatively movable con- It is another objectof my invention to provide tacts l4 and 15 may be embodied in any suitable a new and improved fuseless cutout which is type of circuit breaker. As illustrated in Fig. 1, simple and compact, economical in construction these contacts are embodied in an expulsion type and which may be substituted for conventional on circuit interrupter and contact 15 is mounted prior art fuse cutouts. at the upper end of a tube of insulating material It is another object of my invention to provide 20 which is suitably supported from arm I! either I a new and improved fuseless cutout of the re by a permanent or readily removable means." closing type. Tube-.20 .is preferably at least lined with a mate- Furtherobjects and advantages of my invenrial from which an arc extinguish g s is 2 tion will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed 4 out with rparticularity in the claims annexed to evolved when subjected to theheat of an electric arc. Movable contact 14 is furthermore constructed in the form of a rod and reciprocally movable Within insulating tube 20. Upon relative separation of contacts l4 and [5 by downward movement-oi rod contact rlfi an arcis drawn in; insulating tube 20. The. heatipf this are causes gas to be evolved from the gas evolving surface within tube to cause rapid extincetion or" the are drawn and expulsion ,of, th. arc

gases from the lower end of tube- 20; which isopen.

The lower terminal contact; -a ss embly-50icoin prises a U-shaped support of conducting material 5|, which is suitably fastened toiins ulator l0, 9-,s indicated at 2!.

a resilient contact supporting arm 22. This resilient contact supporting arm extends outwardly:

from insulator M in the'same direction as support ili andgterminates in; an; upwardly extending pore tfron 23: uponwhich rod contact; I 4 is l sunnertea Resilient; arm 2 2'; might v secure; its resiliencefrom alseparatebiasing means or'mambe. fQIIl-TlfidgLGf heavy wire, preferably a: coiled JPQ IfiQ I; 2 addacent; he;v supported; end: he of. in r a v them s i ncys ndiiurth rmereet c s an ly-bi s.

h a t leiin adownvra d .direet Qn- Pr fere ablxrresilient, arm-22; is provided'witha." loop oreye 25 adiae tthe onta tnp r i end ther QE ates- 0; beeenea eab ec y arew t h tick r for manually closing the circuitbreaken; a willbe.

eseribedi ner aterdetaiihereinaite -z ber; 59, which in turn is; fastened to U-sh'aped c'pnducting supportafi'l as; indic atedat. One endgof windin 32- is electrically connectedas by means of conductor 31 with U-shapedconducting; support- 5i, while the other end offwinding- 3'2 -isconnected to line terminal 38 which is connected try a suitable external circuit ars -illustrated by conductor -39. When the currentfiowing through contacts; l4 and l'i, resilient-arm 22, U-'-sh aped conductingsupport5i conductor--31 and winding 3?; which are allin series; reaches a sufliciently highvalue as'determined by the electromagnetic means-andthe adjustment'of screw 40, armature 33and= consequently rod 58 ar pulled down wardly sufii'ciently to trip latching member 53 whereupon resilient arm 22iis no-longerrestrained amthighspeed separation of I relatively movable contacts I41 and liresults with,tl:1e-..consequeut mterruptiorr 0t thecircuit.

Ele i a 'ranimeehanical y' connected to U-shaped conductin support 51' is? Although I have illustrated the resilient arm 22 as forming a part of the lower terminal contact assembly 50, it will be obviou that it might just as well form a part of the upper terminal contact assembly. Also, although I have illustrated the tripping mechanism as; being exposed; to the weather, itis obvious hat a suitable housing may be provided which could readily be supported on Lie-shaped conducting support 51.

Manual opening of the circuit interrupter may be-accompl-ished' 'by pulling downwardly on extension;5 6.,,, An appropriate insulated maintenance toohweulfiibe'ue .1 '.or this purpose. It would not be desirablmhowerrer, to open the circuit by pulling downwardly a maintenance tool which engaged eye Z5,;.sinc.e such action might interfere with,thehighcspeedppening of the circuit breaker after member 53 has been released. The eye 25 is prcvided primarily for manually relatching the circuit interrupter in the closed position after it has operated; Such relatching: is" accomplished by: imerelyzmoving-e resilient arm 22 -upwardlyuntil it: is:vv ag'ain-- latched :inthe positi'on indicated' in Figs; 1 andiZ- with the contacts: and I S incur;- renticarryingxengagement;

In order-automatically to: reclose the circuit through contacts 1 4 and 1'5 upon-openingthereor; it; Snecessary- -t o.- provide meansfor applying; an

upward? force: to resilient: arm 2-zito cause it to relatchin the closed: position; To this-end-I have provided? resilient arm; 6! provided" witha coiled portionan so: as to tendtomeve arm -51 infan' upward direction: Arm 6! mightcomprise a rigidearnrawith eparate biasing means but is pref erably;'made-oiF'heavy' wire, heavier-than;- that from which-arm 21' is made, so that when arm 6-? isi free to; move itliis capableof forcing arm Z2- to itsi'closed 'circuitiposition. Arm 6 may be sup-. v ported' directly-below arm 22 andas shownmaybe held in posit-ion by the samemeans which holds resilient arm 22 position. Supported 'on the outer end of resilient arm 6t is a membei 62' havingforked end BZ-"ibr-engagingresilientrarm 22 during: the circuit recloei-ngoperation; In order to" prevent resilientarm- M" from movingupwardlyandcontinually holding resilient arm 22; in theclosed circuit position; Iprovidea latch 63' comprising the pivotallymounted latching member 64 and the backing-member 65'; The

latching member 64: is provided witha pair of extensions fi fi and 61. The extensi'ontfi' isadaptedto be engaged by springSB- clearly shownin Fig; 2'; which will hold-the latching member 64 in either= the open or closed position whenmoved" to -either of these positions: The latch 64 is adaptedto beoperated-by engagement of 'the extension 6T with a rod 69 pivotally mounted atone end; asindi'catedat to conducting support 5t and pivotally mounted' at-the other end; as indi-v cated; at H, to the freeend of-resilient armefil.

A member 12 rigidly fastened to red 58 attached; to the armature 33 of electromagnetic means an: is adapted to engage arm' 69. Upon theioccurrence-of an abnormal current condition electromagnetic means 30 will not only trip-latchingmember- 53: as previously" described, but in addition by virtue of member 12' and; armf69 resiiientarm 61 would be pulled downwardlyand stressed to an evenlgreaterextentzthan in the position shown in Fig. 1. suchdow-n-wandrmovew ment; of arm; 695 will cause it to movelatching member 6A to the open positionbyavvirtue ofex" tension 61 and thereafter latching member 54 wilk be maintained. in. the openpositicn until again engaged by arm 69 in its upward movement to the position indicated in Fig. 1.

It will be understood that means should be provided for delaying the reclosure of contacts l4 and I5 following the extinguishing of the arc therebetween. Accordingly, in Fig. l I have generally indicated a time delay and totalizing mechanism which is operated by a lever 13 pivotally connected to arms 6| and 69 as indicated at II. This time delay and totalizing mechanism, generally indicated at I4, may comprise an escapement mechanism or any other suitable timing mechanism. I prefer to use a time delay and totalizing mechanism constructed in accordance with that disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent 2,069,082, granted January 26, 1937, and assigned to the assignee of the present application. Such a time delay and totalizing mechanism, after a predetermined number of consecutive operations would be arranged to lock the arm 69 in a downward position and consequently lock the circuit breaker in the open position, as in the above mentioned U. S. Letters Patent 2,069,082. In certain cases, however, it might be desirable to look the circuit breaker in the closed position as disclosed and claimed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,414,786, assigned to the same assignee as the present application. In accordance with the teachings of this patent, the arm 69 after a predetermined number of consecutive operations would cause the contacts M and I5 to be locked in the closed position. It should be understood that the time delay and totalizing mechanism 74 may be any suitable mechanism and forms no part of the present invention insofar as the specific construction thereof is concerned.

In view of the detailed description included above, the operation of the reclosing circuit interrupter illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 will be obvious. An abnormal current will cause armature 33 of electromagnetic means 30 to move downwardly. This movement will not only trip latching member 53 with the consequent interruption of the circuit at contacts [4 and I5 by the high speed downward movement of resilient arm 22 but will also pull resilient arm El and arm 69 downwardly. Downward movement of arm 69 will open latching member t4. As soon as the circuit is interrupted at contacts l4 and I5 armature 33 is free to move upwardly and is moved in that direction under the bias of spring 34. However, the time delay mechanism 14 prevents resilient arm 61 and arm 69 from moving upwardly at high speed, since a predetermined time delay is introduced. When this predetermined time has elapsed, arm 6| moves upwardly at high speed and since latch 64 is open it does not impede or stop the upward movement of resilient arm 6| whereupon resilient arm 22 is moved to its latched position and the circuit is closed at contacts [4 and I5. When arm 69 moves upwardly past the extension 61 of latching member 84, the latching member is moved to its latching position so as to latch resilient arm 5i when it again is moved to the position indicated in Fig. 1. However, if excessive current again flows through the circuit interrupter, armature 33 will be pulled downwardly so as to again trip open latch 64 and the reclosing and opening operations will function as hereinbefore described until the totalizing mechanism included in 14 looks open or looks closed the contacts [4 and I5 as described above. In performing such subsequent opening operations immediately following the initial reclosing operation which would occur in the event of a permanent fault, armature 33 mu'stpull arm 69 as well as rod 58 for a greater distance than on the initial opening operation thereby introducing time .delay in such subsequent opening operations. Inany event rod 58 and arm 69 move downward sufficiently to permit resilient arm 22 quickly to separate contacts l4 and IS the necessary amount before latch 53 is tripped as hereinbefore described. Electromagnetic means 30, member 12 and arms 6| and 69 are so constructed that normal load current flowing through electromagnetic means 30 will be sufficient to latch arm 6| so that the fuseless cutout will reset to the initial operating position, shown in Fig. 1, after clearing a temporary fault from the line. Whenever resilient arm 22 moves downwardly, it engages the forked end 62 of the member 62 and rests therein until the reclosing operation is performed. Preferably the time delay and totalizing mechanism 14 is such that after one, two or three successive reclosures and openings of the circuit breaker the arm 6| will be locked in either its open or closed position in accordance with the prior art referred to above.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from my invention and I, therefore, aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a fuseless cutout, the combination of an insulating support, a pair of normally closed relatively movable contacts, an arm extending from said support and having one of said contacts mounted thereon, said arm being constanty biased in a. direction to cause relative separation of said contacts, releasable holding means normally preventing movement of said arm in said direction so as to hold said contacts in engagement, a second arm extending from said support and engageable with said first mentioned arm, said second arm being constantly and suificiently biased to move said first arm in a direction to effect reengagement of the contacts when said holding means is released and said arms are in engagement, a latch normally preventing movement of said second arm to effect reengagement of the contacts and means responsive to a predetermined current through said contacts for releasing said holding means to eifect separation of said contacts and for releasing said latch to effect engagement of said second arm with said first mentioned arm and reenga ement of said contacts.

2. In an electric switching device, the combination of an insulating support, an arm extending outwardly from said support with one end thereof immovably fixed to said support, said arm being a spring member inherently resilient to cause relatively wide resilient movement of the other and free end thereof, a pair of rela tively movable contacts, one of said contacts being stationary the other of said contacts being mounted on said free end of said resilient arm so that the resiliency thereof constantly biases said contact to a circuit opening position with respect to said other contact, releasable holding means for holding said contacts and said resilient arm in a closed circuit position so that said one contact is in current carrying engagement with the other of said pair of relatively mesa-,2 59.

contaetg, another inhenenfly resiiieni: Witha omencl: thereof: immejvably' fixeda to slipfllffi and a portion-, adjacentthe opposite anct free: emt thereof: en'gageablewith: said first menfiionelf arm-,. said other resilient. 921311]: being, a stronger spring" member than; said first; mentioned: arm: and: the biasing action" thereof. being mi 3;; directionopposite: to: the biasing acticm:v of

said: first; arm so as to" cause reclosing of? said contacts, when saidcontact' holding. meansis released. andwhen: saidotherarm is: in engagement with said first arm, a latchnormallyre straining the biasing action of said. second arm tending; tocause engagement thereof with said first;v mentioned arm and: means responsive to! a pnedetermined. current through-said contactslfor meleasing: said contact holdingv means" to effect jsegaration. ofsaid: contacts and for releasing 8 said latch to. efiect'engagemenfi of. saida second arm with said. first mentioned? arm; andi reengagement on contacts? after; a: pnedetermined delay following: release of said contact: holding means; v

GEQRGE LINCKS,

REFERENCES CITED The following references. are: of record inv the file. of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,784,65l Anderson Dec. 9,; 1930 2,261,721v Dumng, Nov; 4, 1941 2,321,122 Birken'maier et a1; June-8,1943 2,442,477 Wallace et al. June. 1 1L948 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,532,259 November 28, 1950 GEORGE F. LINCKS It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 1, line 9, for the serial number 52,584 read 522,584; column 7, line 3, for suport read support;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 10th day of April, A. D. 1951.

[SEAL] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,532,259 November 28 1 950 GEORGE F. LINGKS It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of 1 the :above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

olumri 1, line 9, for the serial number 52,584 read 522,584; column 7, lme 3, for suport read support;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 10th day of April, A. D. 1951.

[SEAL] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Gammz'ssz'oner of Patents. 

